Leif Ove Andsnes reunites with old friends this week for four performances of Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto and Choral Fantasy in Tønsberg (30 January), Oslo (31 January), Gothenburg (1 February) and Hamar (2 February) with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.

For the third year in a row Leif Ove and the ensemble are performing Beethoven at Oslo’s Opera House and Gothenburg’s Konserthus whilst the performance on Sunday in Hamar is a special event organised by the local bank for the community.

“Beethoven gets a whole new life in these brilliant and fresh interpretations” wrote the Göteborg Posten of their 2013 concert. “The greatness of Beethoven’ Andsnes playing has to do with a rare ability to let the harmonics create myriad sounds clouds, as if we could have imagined Debussy’s impressionism in these cascades of runs and arpeggios. It’s a wonder to experience.”

Norway’s Dagbladet added “It did not take long in the opening of the 4th concerto for Andsnes to show what is so special … that big things are to come … then it arrived, and it arrived with a vengeance. The piano and orchestral sonority was rich and wonderful.”

Source: Det Norske Kammerorkester